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Last updated on Monday, December 16, 2013
(BLOOMFIELD) - 25-year-old Steven B. Kristler appeared in Greene Circuit Court Thursday and was formally charged with one count of child molesting as a class A felony and one count of child molesting as a class C felony.
According to the Greene County Daily World, during an initial hearing with Judge Erik Allen on the bench, Kristler's bond in this case was set at $50,000 cash only, no ten percent allowed. Kristler is being held in the Greene County Jail.
Kristler is accused of sexually molesting a child under the age of 14 on April 11 when he was left alone for 15-30 minutes with five children who were at the Kristler home.
An investigation began not long after the alleged incident took place, after the child, who was there to be babysat, was picked up by a parent and talked about something they said happened to them. The parent took the child to the Linton Police Department that same evening.
The parent and child met with LPD Officer Paul Clark who referred them to IU Health Bloomington Hospital for a sexual assault examination. From there, they were referred to St. Vincent Center of Hope, also known as the Peyton Manning Hospital, for an examination because the Bloomington Hospital does not complete these examinations on victims under the age of 12.
Others were called in to assist in the investigation, including a Family Case Manager with the Greene County Department of Child Services and Investigator Julie Criger with the Greene County Prosecutor's Office.
The investigators began a series of interviews, with children, parents, family members, other people who had been in the Kristler home, and Kristler.
Kristler was asked to provide a DNA sample and he gave consent -- an oral swab from his mouth was submitted to the Indiana State Police Laboratory in Evansville for DNA analysis. A sexual assault kit, with evidence obtained in hospital examinations, was also submitted to the lab.
When tests were completed and certificates of analysis returned to the Greene County Prosecutor's Office, Criger reported the results showed a match from a cutting of the child's underwear and Kristler, and matches with swabs from three places on the child's body to Kristler.
According to a probable cause affidavit prepared by Criger, the alleged incident occurred in a large bathroom of the home when both Kristler and the child were in the bathroom for a short time with the door locked.
The home is located in Linton, however, court records and jail records show Kristler with a Worthington address.
Kristler has another case pending. In 2008, he was arrested and charged with sexual misconduct with a minor, a class C felony -- accused of an incident with a 14-year-old girl.
Kristler was on probation in that case but was found to be in violation of the terms. He wound up back in jail and on Nov. 20, the court terminated his probation as "unsuccessful" and revoked 548 days of a suspended sentence.
The latest case involving child molestation was filed against Kristler on Thursday and a warrant issued for his arrest. The warrant was served to him in jail and the initial hearing was held via videoconference . Kristler qualified for a public defender and David Hunter was appointed to represent him.
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